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James Taylor White
Born 1770? SC
Died 1842? ?Catahoula Parish LA

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Father

SPOUSE	CHILDREN
Mary "Polly" Paul m. 1787? ?Natchez District b. by 1770? d. Oct 20, 1843 Catahoula Parish LA	James K. b. 1792? Spanish La. d. after 1850 Catahoula Parish LA	Joseph b. Nov 15, 1794 Spanish La. d. 1860? Catahoula Parish LA	Reuben b. 1796 LA d. after 1850 ?Catahoula Parish
	Elizabeth b. 1798? LA d. 1850?	Thomas Paul b. 1799? Spanish La. d. 1830?	William B. b. 1802? Spanish La. d. 1850? ?Rapides Parish LA
	Jerusha b. 1804? Spanish La. d. by Jul 1853? TX	Nancy b. 1809? LA d. after 1810?	Mary (?Margaret) b. 1810? LA d. after 1850? ?Catahoula Parish LA
	Davenport b. 1812? LA d. after 1850 ?Catahoula Parish	Sarah "Sally" b. 1812? LA	Alexander A. b. 1815? LA d. after 1850 ?Catahoula Parish LA
	Louis Belk b. 1818? LA d. after 1850 ?Catahoula Parish LA
James was most likely named for grandfather James Taylor White.
There are court records that survived from King & Queen County Virginia that show that the Poe and White families lived in the part that became Caroline County in 1758. In 1732 and 1733, a John Pickett was involved in trespass suits with James and Benjamin Poe, probably Elizabeth's sister and the son of Samuel Poe. Caroline County Virginia was formed in 1727 (see present day map for location), from northern and western parts of King and Queen, King William and Essex counties, about the same time James and Elizabeth Poe were married.
The land granted the Whites in SC was in what was once Craven County, one of the three original parts of the English colony of "Carolana". By 1760, the White family was attending the Cashaway Neck Baptist Church near the Pee Dee River just east of present-day Society Hill SC.
Uncle James Taylor White and his sons William and Reuben, along with brother-in-laws John Holloway, and William Loving were members of a SC militia defeated at Marr's Bluff SC, at the hands of Regulators, on July 25, 1768. William White was wounded, losing use of his right arm so that he could not continue his trade as a cooper (barrel maker). Excerpt from the book The South Carolina Regulators by Richard Maxell Brown gives a background and summary of the incident.
Modern Map of South Carolina Counties showing the 18th Century Parishes. Welch Neck and Cashaway Neck were in St. David Parish. Prince George Parish was to the South and included the Pee Dee River basin from Lynches Creek down to Winyah Bay. Map taken from DMK Heritage (website).
Father James and uncle William White each married daughters of Thomas Davenport (1711-1809). James married Jerusha Davenport about 1752, and William married Sophia Davenport.
While in South Carolina, the White family was not sympathetic to the American Revolution and left a trail of litigation in the state. The family moved to what is now Burke Co NC, then split with some members moving to Natchez Territory (now Mississippi) and the rest remaining in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. The split appears to have occurred when son Reuben was killed by indians in 1777 at Pleasant Gardens NC. James and son William opted for the patriot side and stayed in Burke Co. During the American Revolution, Mississippi and Louisiana districts were havens for Loyalists.
There is a record of uncle Reuben being in Globe, Burke Co. NC in 1772. Reuben entered Captain McDowell's SC Militia in 1776 and was killed at Pleasant Gardens in Burke Co. NC in October of that year. He left his land in SC to sister-in-law Sophia, wife of his brother William, in a deed of gift dated Dec 13, 1773 that was filed in SC in 1777.
North Carolina Counties at beginning of 1775 and at beginning of 1780 showing creation of Burke Co.
Between 1780 and 1781 aunt Elizabeth and her husband John Holloway and family, decided to go west and eventually to Natchez, then in French-Spanish territory, "in order to escape the Revolution". It is known that Elizabeth's brothers, known as "Juan" and "Tiago" White, arrived in Natchez with their families and one slave each in May 1782. (father James) would soon die. By 1785, one uncle and one aunt were living in Spanish territory, and one aunt and uncle would be settled in the North Carolina mountains.
When James was about 12, parents James and Jerusha White left Washington Co. NC (now TN) by May 1782 for Ohio on a flatboat up the Cumberland and Tennessee (known as the Cherokee River). When they reached the mouth of the Ohio River, they could not go up it and went instead down to Spanish-held Natchez on the Mississippi River in a party of 11 individuals and 1 slave under the entry "Tiago White, wife and children" according to Spanish Records, arriving by May 17. A total of 13 families were recorded by Spanish authorities as arriving including families of uncle John White, and of William Dewitt and his wife Catherine White, the daughter of uncle William White.
In May 1782, uncle John White also moved with his family to Natchez District. Brother Reuben White and mother, Mrs. [James] White, said John, during the "latter part of 1781", was living in Washington Co. NC [now part of TN]. The deposition, given Jan 31, 1785, pertained to a transfer of slaves entered in Burke Co. NC between James' niece Catherine White Dewitt and her husband William Dewitt, who was in debt at the time. The transfer of slaves was proved to be a forgery and his debts settled by the Spanish Tribunal. The deposition also noted that James White was deceased. [Natchez Court Records, Book E, p. 38].
1777 Map of the Colonies, by J. Leopold Imbert showing the Carolinas and neighboring territory of "Louisiane" and the rivers and settlements there at the time of the Revolution. Map was reproduced and printed by the Museum of the American Revolution from a map image at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library.
Brother Reuben was old enough to give a deposition at Natchez in Jan 1785. This Reuben White moved to Rapides Parish LA and showed up in the land claims there. He was counted in the Catahoula Parish by the 1820 census.
James Taylor married Mary Paul about 1787. A daughter of cousin James Holloway married Michael Paul (1800-1870), Mary's nephew, in 1821. They were buried in St. Peter (Elmer Catholic) Cemetery in Rapides Parish LA.
In the mid-1790's, James and his family, along with his brother Reuben, and John and James Holloway, sons of their aunt Elizabeth, moved into northeastern Rapides Parish LA, which became known as Holloway Prairie, where they obtained Spanish land grants and engaged in the cattle business. The brothers signed a petition as "American Inhabitants of Rapides Post" to leave Rapides Post to "over the Catahoulah Lake" dated Aug 10, 1794. By Jul 19, 1795 they were listed as "Americans who have persisted in establishing themselves over the Catahula" [Geneal. Reg., Sep 1961]. Many of the Anglo families of the Deville area came there from Natchez.
James is listed in the 1810 Rapides Parish Census along with "Reubon" White, his brother, and is the head of a household of 12 family members: 1 male under age 10 (Davenport?), 2 males aged 10 to 16 (Joseph, Reuben), 3 males aged 16 to 26 (James, 2 sons), 1 male aged 26 to 45(James T.), 3 females under age 10 (Jerusha, Nancy, Mary), 1 female aged 10-16 (Elizabeth), 1 female aged 26-45 (wife Mary b. after Nov 1765), and 2 others and 5 slaves.
Rapides Parish was formed in 1807 by the Territory of Orleans government. (see present day map for location).
On Mar 19, 1820 son Joseph married Lydia Caldwell (1794-1839). She died in Avoyelles Parish LA on Apr 14, 1839. Joseph was listed on line 12 of page 18 in the 1820 Catahoula Parish Census and was the head of a household of 4 family members: 1 males under age 10 (son), 1 males under age 10 to 16 (?), 1 males aged 26 to 45 (Joseph), 1 female aged 26 to 45 (wife Lydia), and no slaves, and one employed in agriculture.
Son Reuben married Mary Ann Courtney Nov 5, 1818. His large family did not include wife Mary Ann on page 37 in the 1850 Catahoula Parish LA Census near other White families. Reuben was the head of a household of 15 members, as follows: Reuben, 54, Planter; James, 29; Jerusha, 27; Ann, 25; Wm., 25; Susan, 24; Emily, 21; Melinda, 19; Joseph A., 15; Martha A., 12; Reuben, 5; Hester (female), 3; Mary A., 3; Peter Kizer, 35, born La., no occupation. In 1859, Joseph A. married Mary Ann Reed, a stepdaughter of Reuben's brother Joseph [AHGP].
Daughter Jerusha married William Holt (1797-1860) on Apr 20, 1820 in Avoyelles Parish LA. Their household in listed on page 132 of the 1820 Rapides Parish LA Census, both parents aged between 16 and 26. They appear again in the 1840 Catahoula Parish LA Census; William aged 40-50, and Jerusha aged 30-40.
A "Wite" name is barely legible in the 1820 Rapides Parish Co. Census, on the last line of page 129. If this is James, he has not yet remarried, being the head of a household of just 3 members: 1 male aged over 45 (James born 1770), 1 male aged 16-26, (son Reuben b. 1796), and 1 female slave. No other White households are listed.
"James White" is listed in the 1830 Rapides Parish LA Census, page 92a, page 92b, line 22, near cousin John Holloway. James is head of a household of 6 members: 1 male aged 50 and under 60 (James born 1770-80), 1 male aged 5-10, (?, b. after 1820), 1 male aged 10-15, (?Alexander Belk, b. 1815?), 1 male aged 15-20, (Davenport White, aged 38 in 1850), 1 female under age 5 (?), 1 female aged 60-70 (wife Mary b. by 1770), and 3 slaves: 1 male age 10-24, 1 male age 55-100, and 1 female aged 10-24.
A "Robertson White", aged 30-40, is listed in the 1830 Rapides Parish LA Census, page 95a, page 95b, last line. The household has 6 persons and no slaves.
In the 1840 Catahouls Parish LA Census There is a "James White Sr." household with a 70-80 year old male, with 2 males aged 20-30 and one male aged 30-40, and no females, next to a "Widdow [sic] White" household headed by a 40-50 year old female with 1 male child and 4 other females. Next to her was James' son "Reubin White" aged 40-50 years old with a 40-50 year old female and many children. Nearby was son Joseph age 40-50 with a 20-30 old female and 3 children [usgwarchives.net].
Catahoula Parish LA was formed in 1808 and borders Rapides Parish formed in 1807 (see present day map for location). Its name is a Tensas indian word for "big, clear lake" [Wikipedia.com].
Son Joseph married Elizabeth Reed on Jan 20, 1842 in Catahoula Parish LA [AHGP].
Son Joseph was listed on page 36 in the 1850 Catahoula Parish LA Census and was the head of a household of 8 family members all born in LA, as follows: Joseph, 55, Planter; Elizabeth (Reed), 36; Martha J., 23; Henry, 8; Julia E., 5; James T., 4; Laura A., 1; and a Mary Reed, age 11, born in La. the same year that Joseph's wife died. So Joseph married Elizabeth Reed, a widower, in 1842 and son Henry was born within a year. On Mar 29, 1859 this "Mary Ann Reed" married Joseph A. White the son of Joseph's brother Reuben White [AHGP Catahoula Parish marriages] On page 37, the households of Joseph's brothers Alexander, age 34, and Davenport, age 38, both planters, were listed, as well as a Margaret White household, age 40, born in La., having 4 children. Also there was a "Louis B. White" aged 32, with a 24 year old female born in TN and a 5 year old daughter [familysearch,org].
Son James may have married Sarah Ramsey after 1835 as he was head of the household on #174-78 in the USGenWeb Archives, Catahoula Parish LA 1850 Census: James, 58, Planter, born in La.; Sarah, 58, b. in S.C.; Elizabeth Ramsey, 15, b. La.
On Dec 2, 1841 in Catahoula Parish, a Jerusha White (?daughter] married Benjamin O. Lanius, who remarried on Jul 6, 1853 in Concordia Parish LA [AHGP].
Son "Lewis Belk White" married Mary Elizabeth Freeman on Jan 31, 1843 in Catahoula Parish LA [AHGP]. In the 1850 Catahoula Parish census, "Louis B. White" and 24 year-old "Elizabeth" who was born in "Tenn." had a 5 year-old daughter Adelia A. born in La.[usgwarchives.net website]
Son Alexander married Sarah A. about 1843. She was 30 years old, born in MS when the 1850 Catahoula Parish Census was taken. His brother Davenport was 38 and he had married his wife Mary, also 38, by about 1830 when a daughter was born.
Son "William B." was a single male household and daughter "Mary White" headed a household of 8 members in the 1840 Rapides Parish LA Census. Both were 30-40 years old. Mary, the oldest member, may have had younger siblings living with her. Ten years later, a "Margaret White" was 40 years old with 4 children aged 10 to 2, in the Catahoula Parish LA 1850 Census [familysearch,org, p. 37].
SOURCES: American History and Genealogy Project, Catahoula Parish Marriages, website. Christenson, Elroy, ahgp.org, website, John Hollaway Family. Clark, Walter, State Records of North Carolina Vol XVII 1781-1785, Broadfoot Publishing, Wilmington NC, 1994, pp. 287-8, 294. Genealogical Register, vol. VIII, No. 3, Sep 1961, p, 36. John Stillee Bible, recording birth of Eliz. Houton, Erica, "John White, Sarah White", Geni, website, trans. from Spanish, St. Martin of Tours Church, St, Martinville LA, record no. 263, image uploaded Jan 19, 2019. McBee, Mary Wilson, Natchez Court Records 1767-1805, Abstract of Early Records, Greenwood MS, 1953. Northern Neck Grants, Virginia State Archives, Book G. Poe, Allan, "The Records, From Virginia to Old Burke Co. N.C.", publ. in Pre-Revolutionary Plat Books, SC Archives Dept., vol. 21, pp 424-433. USGenWeb Archives, Catahoula Parish LA 1840 Census, Annette Womack, 1997. U. S. Census, Rapides Parish LA, 1820, S-K Publ., 2003, p. 132. U. S. Census, Catahoula Parish LA, 1820, S-K Publ., 2003, p. 15-22. U. S. Census, East Feliciana Parish LA, 1840, familysearch.org, p. 277. U. S. Census, Catahoula Parish LA, 1840, familysearch.org, pp. 36-8. U. S. Census, Catahoula Parish LA, 1850, usgwarchives.net, from microfilm roll #432, family #292-304. Vineyard, M.L. & E.M.Wiseman, Wm Wiseman & the Davenports, Pioneers Of Old Burke County, North Carolina, v.2, Franklin NC, 1997, pp. 107-110. Virginia Land Patents, Book 8, p. 16. White, Gifford, "James White and John White", Wm Wiseman & the Davenports, Pioneers Of Old Burke County, North Carolina, v.2, by M.L.Vineyard & E.M.Wiseman, Franklin NC, 1997, pp. 86-96, 107-112. White, Gifford, James Taylor White of Virginia and some of his descendants into Texas, Austin, TX, April 1982.